Niels Swinkels
Native Dutchman Niels Swinkels is a freelance journalist, musicologist, and sound engineer. Before moving to San Francisco, he was the arts editor and senior classical music/opera critic for Brabants Dagblad, a regional daily newspaper in the Netherlands. As a freelance writer and sound engineer, he currently works for San Francisco Opera, KALW Local Public Radio, Elevation Online, Earprint Productions, and others.
Articles by this Author
Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra REVIEW
February 28, 2014
A great ensemble visits San Francisco for the first time and leaves listeners swooning.
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February 21, 2014
Delights to be had at the S.F. Symphony’s current outing include cellist Alisa Weilerstein and conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, playing Haydn and Olympic-skaters-timely Rimsky-Korsakov.
More about San Francisco Symphony »Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra REVIEW
February 2, 2014
As part of the S.F. Symphony Great Performers Series, Kremerata Baltica stops by on its six-city tour promoting a release of some of Weinberg’s orchestral and chamber works.
More about San Francisco Symphony »Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra REVIEW
January 26, 2014
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Pinchas Zukerman as conductor and violin soloist, goes all-Beethoven in its San Francisco outing, to admirable effect.
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January 10, 2014
Color the S.F. Symphony’s program “Bates” and “Beethoven,” for its unusual pairing of an old master with a youthful and inventive challenger.
More about San Francisco Symphony »Choral REVIEW
December 22, 2013
17th-century music specialists Magnificat returned to the stage with a splash in a beautiful recreation of a Christmas mass.
More about Magnificat »Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra REVIEW
December 14, 2013
Taking audiences on a delightfully fresh musical journey with a 271-year-old oratorio, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale hit all the right notes.
More about Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra »Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra REVIEW
December 7, 2013
PBO celebrates the life and work of Nelson Mandela by switching its program to feature a ceremonial work typically performed to honor state luminaries.
More about Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra »Choral REVIEW
November 15, 2013
Amassing to perform Rachmaninov’s Vespers and other sacred works, S.F. Choral Society partners impressively with the Golden Gate Men’s Chorus.
More »Artist Spotlight
November 11, 2013
Marc-André Hamelin is in a series of residencies and starts a tour with the Pacifica Quartet in S.F. Here, he talks about music and the mystery and miracle that is human creativity.
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November 8, 2013
It doesn’t get much better than hearing Michael Tilson Thomas’s S.F. Symphony play a Copland masterpiece, not to mention other works being prepped for a brief tour.
More about San Francisco Symphony »Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra REVIEW
October 27, 2013
The Silk Road Ensemble continues to explore multicultural artistic expression, but on occasion it falters with uninspired trifles.
More about Cal Performances »Choral REVIEW
October 11, 2013
Transparent choral sound and pristine accompaniment mark Cal Bach Society’s performance of Monteverdi’s monumental Vespers.
More about California Bach Society »Artist Spotlight
October 11, 2013
Greatly preferring performing live to recording, pianist András Schiff reflects on his love of Bach and Beethoven and discusses pedaling, music memory, and historical performance.
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October 5, 2013
The season opener of the San Francisco Wind Ensemble's second season was a strong display of great musical things already happening, and a very promising indication of great things to come.
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September 15, 2013
String compositions, drenched in emotion and brilliance, are the tasty Hungarian bill of fare in the Gold Coast Chamber Players’ latest program.
More about Gold Coast Chamber Players »Festival REVIEW
July 27, 2013
The latest Music@Menlo concert explores emotional contrasts in music, both secular and sacred.
More about Music@Menlo »Chamber Music REVIEW
July 12, 2013
What’s better than a wonderful, eclectic evening of chamber music played by faculty members and guest faculty at The Crowden School?
More about Crowden Music Center »
Upcoming Concert
July 13-27
You might not expect new compositions at the Carmel Bach Festival, but you should. Director Paul Goodwin has commissioned works for the past three years, this time from Thea Musgrave.
More about Carmel Bach Festival »Artist Spotlight
June 12, 2013
Pianist Jonathan Biss, about to perform Schumann with the S.F. Symphony, champions him as a perpetually fascinating composer who elicits deep personal feelings.
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